1.  For all their recent pledges of bipartisanship, Republicans and Democrats are headed for an ideological showdown over how best to revive the economy.

2.  The race is cast as an ideological showdown, with comic sidelights.

3.  There are factions within both parties that see an ideological showdown as the best way of turning out voters on their behalf next year.

4.  This is an ideological showdown the American economy cannot afford.